Reps Pass Bills Supporting Senate Legislative Priority

Hawai‘i State lawmakers have passed a number of important measures ahead of the Friday, April 28, final decking deadline that align with the Senate Legislative Program consigned to at the beginning of the 2018 Legislative Session.  The Senate Legislative Program is made up of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that provide a framework for improving the quality of life now and for future generations.

“The Senate kept its promise by passing measures to address the impact of climate change, to protect our natural resources, and to encourage economic prosperity in our state,” said Senate Majority Leader, Senator J. Kalani English (Dist. 7 – Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaho‘olawe). “What the Senate accomplished this Session is just one step towards creating a stronger, more sustainable island community, yet our work is not done.  We will continue to strive to make our state a better place to live.”

Among the most significant measures, lawmakers passed HB1900 HD1 SD1 CD1 the State Budget which provides $15 million to fund homeless services; $7.1 million to increase payments for foster caregivers; $4.5 million for three new ambulances, one each on Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu; $1.2 million for the Kūpuna Caregivers program; and $1.1 million for recruitment and certification of public school teachers.

To aid those impacted by the devastating flooding on Kaua‘i, East Honolulu, and other parts of the state, SB192 SD1 HD1 CD1 was passed to provide $125 million in emergency funding and also deposit more than $80 million in tobacco settlement funds into the state’s rainy day fund.

Other important bills that were approved by members of the Senate and House conference committees include those that address housing and homelessness (SDG No. 1 – No Poverty) including HB2748 HD2 SD2 CD1 which provides an unprecedented total of $570 million which will generate more than 25,000 affordable units by the year 2030.  SB2401 SD2 HD1 CD1 and SB2027 SD2 HD1 CD1 provide a total of $34.7 million to fund ‘Ohana Zones and support medical services for the homeless statewide.

SB2990 SD2 HD2 CD1 establishes the Paid Family Leave Implementation Board to assist the Department of Human Services in establishing paid family leave for all workers in the State. Authorizes DHS to adopt rules, including interim rules by January 1, 2020. (SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities)

SB2351 SD1 HD1 CD1 prohibits prospective employers from requesting or considering a job applicant’s wage or salary history as part of an employment application process or compensation offer. Prohibits enforced wage secrecy and retaliation or discrimination against employees who disclose, discuss, or inquire about their own or coworkers’ wages. (SDG 10- Reduced Inequalities)

HB1489 HD1 SD2 CD1 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation, in any state educational program or activity, or in any educational program or activity that receives state financial assistance. (SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities)

SB2046 SD1 HD1 prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale, transfer, and possession of bump fire stocks, multi-burst trigger activators, and trigger cranks. (SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)

SB2922 SD1 HD1 proposes amendments to the Constitution of the State of Hawai‘i to authorize the Legislature to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to support public education. (SDG 4 – Quality Education)

SB3095 SD1 HD1 CD1 restricts pesticide use near schools, bans some pesticides completely and expands outreach for the proper use of pesticides. (SDG 15 – Life on Land)

SB2939 SD2 (Act 005) requires the PUC to establish performance incentive and penalty mechanisms that directly tie electric utility revenues to the utility’s achievement on performance metrics.  (SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities)

SB2247 SD1 HD2 CD1 authorizes pharmacists to prescribe, dispense, and provide related education on opioid antagonists to individuals at risk of opioid overdose and to family members and caregivers of individuals at risk of opioid overdose without the need for a written, approved collaborative agreement; subject to certain conditions. (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well Being)

SB508 SD1 HD1 CD1 amends the taxes withheld on the amount realized by nonresidents from the disposition of Hawai‘i real property from 5% to 7.25%. Applies to real estate dispositions that occur on or after Sept. 15, 2018. (SDG 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities)

SB2693 SD1 HD1 CD1 makes an appropriation to the temporary commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts to plan for the Festival of Pacific Arts to be held in Honolulu from June 11 to June 27, 2020. (SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals)

HB2739 HD1 (Act 002) establishes a regulated process under which an adult resident of the State with a medically confirmed terminal disease and less than six months to live may choose to obtain a prescription for medication to end the patient’s life. Imposes criminal sanctions for tampering with a patient’s request for a prescription or coercing a patient to request a prescription.  (SDG 3- Good Health and Well Being)

HB2071 HD2 SD2 CD1 establishes a temporary law enforcement working group to recommend certification and de-certification requirements for state and county law enforcement officers who carry firearms and badges and have arrest authority. Prohibits law enforcement officers who are terminated for misconduct by a state or county department, agency, or office in a law enforcement capacity from being hired by another state or county law enforcement department, agency, or office unless the officer is reinstated through collective bargaining or the legal process. (SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)

SB2571 SD2 HD2 CD1 bans the sale, offer of sale, or distribution in the State of any sunscreen that contains oxybenzone or octinoxate, or both, without a prescription issued by a licensed healthcare provider to preserve marine ecosystems. Appropriates moneys to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for outreach and education on the prohibition and environmental impacts of sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. (SDG 14- Life Below Water)

These measures now move to the full Senate and House for final reading.

A complete list of the bills that have been decked for final reading is available at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

To view the 2018 Senate Legislative Program, visit www.hawaiisenatemajority.com.